Overheard from the Pedicure Chair...

I've been working on a "very deep" post, but I can't finish it. So, I've decided to share with you a little episode I witnessed at the nail salon today.

This older woman was in the salon having her nails done by the nice Asian gentleman who runs it. When it was time to scrub, she grabbed her walker and began scooting over to the sink while singing: "You take the high road...and I'll take the low road...and I'll be in Scotland afore ye...for me and my true love will never meet again...on the bonnie bonnie banks O'Loch Lomond." Then she turned around to announce to the salon: "My Mother used to sing to me all the time when I was younger. Mostly hymns." And she scooted over to have her nails painted.

I'm quite sure this is not a popular song among young Asian nail techs. In fact, I'm not so sure my own children even know the tune. But I did. My tech rolled her eyes at me, but I was mesmerized by this woman.

Once she got to the new chair, I could hear her conversation with the new girl that was going to finish the job. The girl commented about this woman's age (88 years). She said, "My you look younger than 88!" {And she did.} The woman replied, "I looked much younger until a few weeks ago when I went in the hospital and they had to do surgery. They made me lose fifteen pounds." Then she proceeded to announce to the entire salon that she'd had diarrhea for several days...and at this point her conversation toned down to just include her and the nail tech.

I commented to my nail tech, "I hope I'm half that spunky when I'm 88!" She calmly said, "She obviously led a very boring younger life." I thought that was a strange come back and I asked why. The young girl told me, "You're supposed to get all that out of your system in your 20's, 30's and 40's. When I'm that age, I'm going to be sipping tea on my back porch and watching my roses grow!"

It was an interesting perspective...and I'll confess to you that my one thought was:

"Well, I still hope I'm more like HER at 88 than you will be! And I've had a blast in my 20's 30's AND here in my 40's!!"

But I've learned that some thoughts are better left unsaid.

And the rest of the day, I've found myself humming, "You take the high road and I'll take the low road and I'll be in Scotland afore ye..."